Given the 2,400-fold range of genome sizes (0.06-148.9 Gbp (gigabase pair)) of seed plants (angiosperms and gymnosperms) with a broadly similar gene content (amounting to approximately 0.03 Gbp), the repeat-sequence content of the genome might be expected to increase with genome size, resulting in the largest genomes consisting almost entirely of repetitive sequences. Here we test this prediction, using the same bioinformatic approach for 101 species to ensure consistency in what constitutes a repeat. We reveal a fundamental change in repeat turnover in genomes above around 10 Gbp, such that species with the largest genomes are only about 55% repetitive. Given that genome size influences many plant traits, habits and life strategies, this fundamental shift in repeat dynamics is likely to affect the evolutionary trajectory of species lineages.

Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic

Division of Molecular Biology Department of Biology University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia

Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Guangzhou China

Institut Botànic de Barcelona Barcelona Spain

Institute of Biophysics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno Czech Republic

Jodrell Laboratory Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond UK

School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London London UK

School of Life Sciences University of Bedfordshire Luton UK

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